NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 6: THE BARNS AT HAMILTON STATION

The Notebook confesses that The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards is not exactly new, especially since wineries in Loudoun County are opening faster than we can keep track of. However we thought for the past two years that The Barns (as they like to be called) was an offshoot of nearby Hunters Run Wine Barn, partially due to its name. We also knew that Hunters Run's owners, Geri and Greg Nolan, were planning to expand their location, so color us confused.

The Barns, like Hunters Run, is technically located in the small town of Hamilton, which has a distinctive yet small "downtown" that straddles business route 7 between Leesburg and Purcellville. Most folks skip the business route in favor of the more familiar bypass, but there are some charming old homes in Hamilton. Postal codes are wacky in Loudoun County. Notaviva Vineyards, a mere 2 miles from the West Virginia border, is located in Purcellville, according to the post office. However the downtown of Purcellville is about 15 miles away from Notaviva. Sunset Hills Vineyards, which is very close to the Hamilton-listed Barns at Hamilton Station, also has a Purcellville address. One day we'd like to see a historic map of the county to see how these town limits appeared; probably similar to the large "townships" found in other states like Pennsylvania (townships are more like mini counties than traditional towns).

Enough geography....on to the location, and the wine. The Barns at Hamilton Station is, big surprise, located inside a barn, like so many wineries in the county. As the case with nearby Sunset Hills Vineyards and Willowcroft, the barn has been lovingly restored, and the builders incorporated artifacts found scattered around the pre-restoration barn (such as old license plates and rusty tools) into the tasting room décor. While the barn at Sunset Hills received a rather slick upgrade courtesy of crafty Amish carpenters, the barn at Barns at Hamilton Station retains more ruggedness. Plus, a gas fireplace (real wood fire being understandably too hazardous). Wood naturally absorbs sound, so even when the location gets crowded (and the inevitable live band is playing), you can still hear your table's conversation. Needless to say, the interior of The Barns works wonders during the cold months:

The Barn has a lower level that is rented for events (there was a wedding supply "Expo Hall" type exhibit going on the day we visited). Wedding supplies and winery....sounds like a match made in heaven. If there is an event in this space, the parking lot of the Barns at Hamilton Station may look busier than the tasting room itself is, so don't let that discourage you from visiting the winery.

The wine offerings are fairly typical of what you would find in Virginia: Viognier, with notes of apricot and fig; Chardonnay, slightly oaked and a bit more complex than other Chardonnays found in the area; Cab Franc, a bit lighter than other Francs offering notes of cherry; Merlot, a bit light and with a nice hint of oak. Nothing truly remarkable (yet...) about these wines but all good and satisfying. This is a new location and their prices are more competitive than other new wineries, which frequently price their wines on the high side ($25 and up) to make up for initial expenses. You can get away with that pricing in "recession proof" Northern Virginia, so we were pleased with The Barns' decision to keep prices a little lower (however no bottle is less than $20).

Since this winery is in Northern Virginia, expect to wait for a tasting. This is becoming the norm in the area, unless you get out to winery country early (arrive by opening time, 11 AM for most locations). Despite the number of new wineries in Loudoun County, the tasting rooms are always hopping. And Loudoun County now unfortunately suffers from "winery gridlock" on the roads, particularly route 9 (Charles Town Pike) heading from route 7 towards Harpers Ferry and Charles Town, where many wineries dot the highway. The Barns compensates for their busy factor by offering an ancillary tasting table, created with flat piece of wood and two barrels, as well as their regular tasting bar on busy days.

Outside, a deck, with a view of an unusual shaped pond, lets you forget you're only 8 minutes from downtown Leesburg. We were happy to see no McMansions in sight, which is becoming rare for wineries in the county. With such close proximity to the DC area, The Barns make a terrific all-day getaway, and if you crave other wineries, the aforementioned Hunters Run Wine Barn and Sunset Hills Winery are only a few minutes away (relatively speaking, depending on the traffic on route 9....).

The tasting barn at The Barns. Firepits await you outside, but arrive early to grab one:

The deck at The Barns:

Link for winery:
Barns at Hamilton Station

NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 4: 868 ESTATE VINEYARDS

Loudoun County has long been a microcosm for the vineyard and winery explosion in the state - in 2013 alone, ten new wineries have either opened or are expected to open. 868 Estate Vineyards, with vines planted in 2012, resides on the same property in the northern part of the county as the Grandale Restaurant, which has been open since 2005. Grandale is well-known throughout the county as being one of the finest farm to table restaurants in the area, and the tasting room across the lot from the restaurant is a perfect way to start (or finish) a dining experience.

The 868 Estate Vineyard property boasts the highest elevation in the valley between the Short Hills and Blue Ridge mountain ranges at 868 feet, hence its name. As of this post, their tasting room offers wines from other parts of the state (and country), as their own grapes mature (this practice is also underway at Little Washington Winery, in Washington, VA). Although we were a little disappointed that 868 didn't have many wines of their own yet, we are expecting great things from this location. Its proximity to Breaux Vineyards makes it an excellent stop on the way to (or back from) that well-known spot.

Of the wines offered by 868, the Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc were the stand outs - both recent medal winners at the 2013 Eastern Wine Competition. These are 2010 vintages, so the winemakers brought the grapes in from other nearby vineyards. Some may think this winery opened prematurely, but with the Virginia winery boom in full swing, the location can only improve with time.

One thing we found refreshing were the hours of operation - open until 7 PM on the weekend. This probably stems from their location next to a popular restaurant. However we would love to see other Virginia spots keep their doors open until at least 6:30 to 7, at least on the weekends. The model of opening up at 10 AM and closing at 5 may work in California, but makes little sense for Virginia.

We like to think of wineries like 868 and Little Washington as special locations where the entire experience is based on local, organic food (868) and offerings from other states (Little Washington), in addition to Virginia wine. The more selections imbibers have in the Commonwealth, the better for the customer, the tasting room, and the industry.

Winery URL:
868 Estate Vineyards

NEW WINERY SPOTLIGHT 3: OTIUM CELLARS

Otium Cellars in Loudoun County opened about two years ago in the midst of a county-wide winery boom that's still going strong (at least six other wineries are opening in 2013-2014). Located down a long and winding road outside of Purcellville, Otium Cellars is actually the vineyard/winery wing of Goose Creek Farms and Winery, a private equestrian facility dedicated to raising World Class Hanoverian horses. The owners decided in 2007 to dedicate a portion of their rolling property to vineyards, with a concentration on German and French varietals.

Like several other tasting rooms in the state, Otium embraced true craftsmanship for their winery. Their tasting cabin offers two levels for partaking in cold or rainy weather, complete with a gas fireplace. As the case with so many tasting rooms, Saturdays can be hectic, with live music and crowds, but the property is vast and visitors are welcome to linger at the outdoor picnic tables, or bring their own picnic chairs.

Otium Cellars:

Tasting Room:

The owners "make what they like" here. Don't expect Cab Franc; the owner/winemaker is not a fan of Virginia's favorite red. Instead, he's crafted a delicious Cab Sauv, with notes of raspberry and coffee. Their Malbec is another bold winner, complex with soft tannins.

Otium's owners are German, which explains the presence of Dornfelder, only the second winery in Virginia we've encountered that offers this varietal. Although Germany is known for white wines on the sweeter side (like Riesling), Dornfelder's early ripening and solid acidity allow it to thrive in Germany's cool climate zone, resulting in a light to medium-bodied red wine, with lower alcohol levels and occasionally a hint of sweetness.

Otium also offers a Blaufränkisch, which is commonly referred to as Lemberger and is becoming rather popular in Virginia tasting rooms, pleasing fans ready for a red outside the confines of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot and Chambourcin. This is a spicier red, rich in tannins, and will age beautifully. Bring it out in colder weather with beef stew or prime rib. They also offer a Pinot Noir, but being one of the few wineries in Northern Virginia with a Pinot Noir, they go quickly (we were unable to try it).

On the lighter side, Otium typically offers a semi dry or semi sweet table white, a Pinot Grigio, and a Chardonnay, which was a little too buttery for our taste buds. This winery will definitely be one of our "to go" places for reds.

After tasting, the owners encourage visitors to walk around the grounds and visit the animals, which include pigs, a pony, and some loud roosters. Otium is another winning daycation spot in the Napa of Northern VA (Loudoun County).